TEEG awarded $50,000
W. WARWICK, R.I. — The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation has reached a major milestone—surpassing $10 million in charitable giving since its inception in 2008 — while awarding community impact grants to 28 nonprofit organizations across eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. These grants support affordable housing, education, and workforce development in communities with limited access to resources.
One recipient of a foundation grant is Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG), which provides wraparound services to individuals and families facing food insecurity, economic hardship, and limited access to youth programs.
“Today, 1 in 6 children and 1 in 7 Connecticut residents face hunger. Recent changes to the state budget have made access to essential resources more challenging, making community support necessary to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our neighbors. Thanks to the generous support of partners like the Centreville Bank Foundation, we can continue to serve the families who rely on us,” said Catherine Smith, Food Systems coordinator of TEEG.
The Charitable Foundation’s latest round of giving, totaling $580,000, spans a wide range of services and communities. In Windham and Tolland counties, the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will use funds to expand access to outdoor education and leadership development for local youth.
“Reaching $10 million in giving is a proud milestone for us and a reflection of the commitment we’ve made to the communities we serve and the important partnerships we’ve build with organizations who are working every day to remove barriers, uplift lives, and create opportunities,” said Paola Fernandez, SVP of Community Development at Centreville Bank. “From addressing food insecurity and increasing affordable housing opportunities, to education and youth workforce development, these grants represent a shared effort to strengthening every community we serve.”.
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Pomfret residents OK both budgets
POMFRET — It was standing room only at Pomfret’s 312th Annual Town Meeting. Close to 300 residents approved the 2025-2026 General Government and Board of Education budgets. The mill rate increase on the median home in Pomfret will be $740 per year.
The General Government budget passed by a vote of 210 yes to 72 no. The budget is $3,437,510, an increase of $54,414 or 1.61 percent over the current fiscal year.
The education budget passed by 190 yes to 92 no. The $11,722,872 spending plan is a 3.72 percent increase of $371,633. The ballot had advisory questions and space for comments for the Board of Finance.
Because of the revaluation the mill rate went up to 20.74. The mill rate was reduced by almost a mill by using funds from the Board of Education non-lapsing fund and the Town’s general fund in the amount of $455,000.00.
First Selectman Maureen Nicholson said "This was a difficult budget year and I’m sure future budgets will be challenging. We have to start now to find ways to control future spending. The tax increases are not sustainable.”
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
No arrests May 22 through May 28.
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Woodstock girls' tennis team picked up 1 win in tourney
The Woodstock Academy girls’ tennis team not only qualified for the Class L state tournament this spring, it also picked up a victory.
The 14th-seeded Centaurs were able to down No. 19 Torrington on Friday.
Woodstock was supposed to take on No. 3 Middletown on Saturday but has been the case all spring, rain got in the way.
The two teams did get on the court on Sunday afternoon with host Middletown taking the 5-2 victory to advance to the state quarterfinals.
The Centaurs saw their season come to a close with a 9-7 record.
“The highlights of the season had to be getting a state tournament victory and having five players chosen as ECC All-Stars,” said first-year coach Dena Cocozza O’Hara.
The Centaurs took the early lead against Torrington when Wynter Worth posted a straight set 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ainslee Campbell.
Gianna Musumeci followed with a hard fought 7-6 (8-6) , 6-2 win over Torrington’s Ellie Goodwin.
O’Hara said she was also happy with those who stepped up and had to fill the shoes of third singles player Kerrigan Reynolds who was unable to play.
Madilyne Ead got the nod on Friday and even though she did not score a victory, she did force Samra Babic to three sets before falling 3-6, 6-3, 2-6.
Katie Bruce also went the distance, losing in fourth singles in three sets.
But the Centaurs would pick up the victory thanks to their second and third doubles teams.
Delilah Kesselman and Catherine Trudeau came out on top in their match 6-2, 6-1 and the duo of Mariia Oliinyk and Emma Morrison also posted a victory to give the Centaurs the narrow win.
The Centaurs traveled to the middle of the state on Sunday and picked up a victory each in singles and doubles.
Musumeci posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory at second singles and the second doubles team of Kesselman and Trudeau were victorious again with a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
The Centaurs also will be losing only three seniors, Linnea Barlow, Abby Budd and Kate Bruce to graduation.
Worth did pick up a win early in the week at the ECC girls tennis tournament.
Worth, seeded No. 6 in the singles, downed Tori Campisi of Waterford, 8-2, in the first round. Unfortunately, she lost to third-seeded Valentina Schiano of East Lyme, 3-6, 2-6 in the quarterfinals.
Musumeci lost in the first round to Madison Beaulieu of Fitch, 8-3.
In doubles, Budd and Barlow lost their first-round match to Veronica Castro and Nina McKiernan of East Lyme, 8-3, and Trudeau and Kesselman were upended by Stonington’s Addison Fulling and Madelyn McAdams by that same 8-3 score in a first-round contest.
Worth was named an ECC Div. II girls’ tennis All-Star in singles. Barlow, Budd, Trudeau and Kesselman were named All-Stars in doubles. Musumeci was an honorable mention selection.
Kennedy Xeller is the girls' tennis team ECC Scholar-Athlete and Reynolds was the recipient of the team’s ECC Sportsmanship Award.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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